Flash-lettering machine.



G. F. BAGGE.

.FLASH LETTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. Is. 1914.

1,149,490. .Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. F. BAGGE.

FLASH LETTERING MACHINE. APPLICATION riLD APR. 1a, 1914.

1,149,490. Patented Aug. 1o,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GPcunAl HTEOSNRLMFYWVX l' 56763 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF FIBAGGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A.SSIGNOIB, TO ALPHAGRAPH MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLASH-LETTERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Application led April 18, 1914. Serial No. 832,683;

tain new and useful Flash-Lettering Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l

My invention relates to a novel flash lettering machine, and has for its primary object the provision of a machine which is designed to produce in a rapid and economical manner' photographically printed slides adapted for use more particularly as text and program slides in connection with proj ection apparatus.

vHeretofore in producing a printed slide. for use as a text or program slide in a projection lantern, it has been customary in obtaining the better class 0f work to have the text matter set up and then printed on a'suitable back ground, and subsequently the printed text was photographed on a plate. An operation of thischaracter required not only a great amount of time but also involved a considerable layout of detached and frequently unavailable apparatus, which necessarily resulted in a product so expenslve in the aggregate as to be practically prohibitive for use by the smaller moving picture show proprietors.

I t is my ann to provide a portable and compact shdelettering or printingmachine which entirely .overcomes these disadvan- I tages; and alsoto provide a machine whichmay be easily and readily` manipulated by any person toproduce in a comparatively short space of time a slide containing any desired printed text. For example, my invention will enablethe proprietor of a movngpicture theatef to quickly and cheaply produce at will slides containing public announcements, programs, songs, and the like and onthe other hand the film manufac` turers will enabled thereby -to produce the-descript1ve text matter which usually accompiies a film story, and 1n a more @available manner than has heretofore` been possible.

These, togetherl with such other objects f yand advantages as 'may hereinafter appear,

or are incident to my-invention. I attain vby In a broad sense, my invention comprises the provision of a machine of the character above described adapted for bringing a succession of selected letters or characters into thefprincipal optical axis of a suitable lens, which letters or characters are designed to be photographically flashed for reproduction -on a sensitive plate or film movable in the focal plane to receive in spaced relation the imprint of said letters or characters as they are brought up into the .said

axis.

In carrying out my invention I provide a. frame comprising a bed plate or base A, side frame members B, back plate C, and a transverse bar member D extending between the side members B and disposed in front of the said back plate C. This transverse member D has mounted on it a pedestal 7 whose upper end is provided with` a socket portion 7a which carries a projecting hood 8. lVithin the hood is a suitable radiant 9, which in this instance is shown as an ordinary electric light mounted within that portion 8a of the hood embraced by the socket 7a. Disposed intermediate the hood and back plate C, and preferably in the axial line of the'hood, is a casing or lens box 10 -provided with suitable lens and havingits rear open end fixedly received in an aperture c formed centrally in the back plate,

spaced relation from the hood is provided with a suitable shutter device 11 mounted to normally close the front aperture.

` I prov-ide means, hereinafter described,

whic

operate to bring up a selected letter o r character inte the axis at a point intermediate theradiant and lens box aperture and its front end which is held away in for itsl reproduction-.on a suitable negative, I such as theJ sensitive plate indicated at 12. The plate 1s carried at an appropriate focal -distance in a plate holder 13 adapted to have horizontal and vertical movement in the focal plane of the lens through Vthe provision of a frame E, which latter is so mounted at the rear ofthe back plate as to insure the plate holder 13 being held against the back plate, there being a marginal bearing strip 13a of felt,or like material, inter-A posed between the holder and back plate for the purpose of excluding light from the plate. This frame E preferably comprisesthe upright posts 14 connected at their upper ends by a. bar 15 which engages a roller 16 mounted on the back plate, the lower ends vof the post'being similarly connected by the lower bar 17 provided with depending hubs 17 through'which freely extends a partial worm shaft 18 rotatively mounted in ears 18 forming part of the side frame members B.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 4 it will be seen that the plate holder' -13 is slidably mounted for .guided vertical movement on the upright posts 14 of the frame E, and is provided with a vertical rack 19 `with 'which meshes a shrouded gear 1911 slidable on and rotatable with a splined shaft 20 mounted in the side frame bearings "20a, the `shaft being arranged for actuation bythe hand lever 21. The means for moving the frame and with it the plate holder in a horizontal plane will be described hereinafter, but during such movement it will be obvious that the rack 19 carries the shrouded gear 19a with itand along the splined shaft, and that both gear and rack are in constant operative relation irrespective of any positioning of the plate and its holder. l

An important feature of Amy invention is the provision of mechanism adapted to successively bring into the axis any numberof desired characters or letters for producing the imprint of the same on the plate. This mechanism is intended notA only to actuate" the shutter of the lens' boxbut also serves to. vimpartmovement in a horizontal plane to the plate 12 .for the purposeof receiving the imprint thereon ofthe letters in successive and properly spaced relation. 'v

A To this end I preferably provide a car riage QF .mounted for sliding movement in av horizontal' plane en the alined shafts 22 and'22fL which have their endsreceive'd in .y splined shaft 22h whoseends are rotatively the side members B, and above the shaft 22a and' passing through upwardly extended" portions E23 of the carriage F is a third and.

mounted in the side frame members. The carriage proper approximates a hollow rectangular figure, and is adapted to freely vmove horizontally on its shafts between the side frame members, the forward portionbeing disposed beneath thertransverse bar D and inclining rearwardly.y and upwardly therefrom' toi form the extended end portions 23 which are provided with the rabbeted wings 23, that serve as a holder for the master plate or like character bearing member indicated at G. A reference to Figures4 2 and 3 clearly indicates the positioning of this master plate, which isv arranged to extend vertically and intermedi- 1 ately of the radiant and the shuttered aperture of the lens box. ln the preferred ein-- bodiment shown, the master plate consists of a glass plate having photographed thereon,

in inverted'form. albhabetical letters and' characters arranged in alinement and in such relative order as may be desired. This plate may be made of any transparent material, such as Celluloid, and may be formed in any suitable shape'or contour.

Mounted on the transverse bar D is an ine" vclined key board plate K having on its face a set of characters or letters forming a duplicate set of the -characters or letters on the master plate. The arrangementl of sets of characters on the master plate,y and key board respectively is reversed in view of the travel of the carriage, and, as in thisinstance where the letter' Z (inverted) is 'at the right `of the row on the master plate, the corresponding indicating letter Z is placed at the left on the keyboard. The carriage is provided with an indica tor 24 which is arranged to indicate on the key board just exactly what character on the master plate is desired to be brought into position in the axis of the lens, and since the cater travels with the carriage the necessity for reversing the order of the sets of characters will be/readilyvapparent. The numeral roo" indi- 24a represents a hand piece which is pro` into'the axis, I provide suitable mechanismcomprising. in this instance a plate 25 dis posed belowv the forward part of the carriage and extending between the side frame mem# y bers', which plate is provided with countersunk centering apertures, 25, corresponding ,in number'with vthose of the characters on the key board plate K,.and located in alinement with `the charactersof the key board and master plate. Thenumeral indicates a centering pin extending through anY aperture formed in the-front :portion of the carriage,- the pin and indicator 24 ,beingloca'ted' with respect'to. each other and ismposed in the lsame l.vertical plane. "The pin is prof videdA with a button 26", and is normally held out of contact with the apertures 25 through the provision of a spring 26h. It will be clear that if the carriage is moved to bring the indicator to a desired letter on the key board, that depression of the centering pin into the corresponding aperture brings that selected character on the master plate into an exact central position in the focal axis, since an alined relation exists between that aperture and the character so selected.

The preferred means for actuating the plateholder will now be described. Conveniently located at the front of the machine is a hand bar 27 pivotally mounted on a fulcrum 28 and provided with the lever arm 29 extending rearwardly in a direction toward the worm shaft 18, the lever arm being normally held down by the spring 28a.

Therefore, depression of the hand bar 27 will impart a vertical upward movement to the lever arm 29, which motion is translated to a'step-bystep rotatory motion of vthe Worm shaft by the inter-position of suitable mechanism, as the bell crank lever 30, link 31, and lever 32, which is provided with a pawl 32a adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet 33 when the hand bar is depressed, and to ratchet over the teeth when the bar is returned to normal position by the spring 28a. The worm shaft is, provided with a portion thereof extending outwardly beyond ably mounted to horizontally move the frame, and with it the'plate holder.J xBoth 'rod and pa-wl' have corresponding abut` ments 35a and 34a'which servel to keep the lbar I27` the plate -12 is caused to move a preface o'f the pawl in sliding engagement with the worm shaft as the latter is rotated. Consequently, at each depression of the hand determined distance to bring a new. portion of its surface in readiness toreceive the photographic imprint of the Asucceeding selected character, or to effect aspacing between a series of words. e

It will be understood-that the differential H may, ,if'desired,.be' omitted, but it is con# sidered advantageous for the reason that thespacing referred to may be readily variedl to suit.v This variation is obtained through the key; 36 which-is slidablein' a keyway ormedfin the member 37 'solas to connect.

theI gear ai with any one of the loose gears b in mesh with the gears d, which latter are fast on the extended portion of the worm "-.shaft 1S to turn it. As the plate reaches or nears the end of its travel, (which is deterasA mined by the length .of the Worm) the actuating rod 35 -is moved inwardly tov return the plate to the starting point, the initial movement of the rod taking up the lost motion to release the engagement of the abutments 34 and 35a whereby the pawl is disengaged from the worm to permit the entire movement ofthe plate to take up its new position. The mom-ent that the rod 35 is relieved of pressure the abutments reengage to force the pawl against the worin through the action of the spring indicated at 35", whereupon manipulation ofthe hand lever 2l el-evates the plate to bring a new line intoplace.

Stops 38 are provided lto limit the upward movement of the hand bar 27, and for vthe purpose of controlling the extent of its downward travel and consequently the movement of the ratchet 33, I preferably provide a spring-held pin 39 slidable verti.

cally in a recess formed in a projecting portion 40 of the carriage which is disposed immediately under the hand bar .27. This pin, as in the manner shown, projects above vthe portion 40 in a direction 'toward the hand bar, so that irrespective of any positioning of the carriage, depression of the hand bar depresses the pin against its spring 39a until it abuts the transverse stop bar 40.

Assuming that the extent of hand bar down travel is equal to two teeth of the ratchet, compensation should be provided for differences in size widths of the letters I, IV, M, with respect to the other letters of the alphabet; since otherwise absolute accuracy in spacing these said letters may not' be obtained. 'With this end in view I preferably provide the stop bar with the com. pensating notches or recesses 41, 41a, and the abutment 41", which are located with reference to the letters W, M and I respectively on the key board G. Consequently, with the indicator 24 at letter Ion the key board, the hand bar 27 on depression actuates the `pin 39 to'engage the abutment 41b which is soarranged that the ratchet is moved a distance equal to one of its teeth.. Similarly the ratchet moves threeteeth when the pin is depressed into the notches. 41 or 41,

which as previously stated correspond to the wider letters M and W.

Areference to Figure'2 will show that the i' bell crank lever-3() has a dwell at or lost -motion connection at 31 with the link 31,

and is mounted on the stub shaft 42 to turn it on receiv-ingmotion from the lever 30. Mechanism is providedcforopening the shut-r ter 11, which is preferably operable by the motion transmitted to the stub'shaft through the .bell crank lever 30. and lever arm 29, and at atim-e prior to the taking up of the lost motion at 31, It is desired that the shutter be opened and closed, before any ratchet movement takes place, which as previouslystated serves to space the imprinted selected character from the character intended to succeed it.

The shutter device 1l is normally held closed by the spring 43 which is connected to the shutter actuating rod 44, whose lower end is preferably connected to a bell crank lever 50 pivoted at 44a. shaft 42, and disposed at its inner end beneath the lens box, is a plate 45 having thereon a pivoted pawl 4G with its face normally held in engagement with an abutment formed on the free end of the bell crank by the shaft 42. Onmovement being imparted to the latter through depressionof the hand bar 27, the pawl 46 snaps the lever 50 to open the shutter and disengages therefrom at once, whereupon the spring 43 closes the shutter and returns the levers 2O to normal position. Subsequently the lost motion at 31a being taken up, motion is then imparted to the ratchet, and as the hand bar returns to normal position the pawl 4G slips under the abutment and is returned to engaged position by the light leaf spring 4G, which is lighter than the spring at 43.

A series of master plates containing different sized letters or characters may be used, but I prefer to use a master plate of the character indicated in Figure 6 on which rows of different sized letters may be accommodated. Gams 47 mounted to slide on and turn` with the splined shaft 22b bear against the lower edge of the master plate, and are operated by the hand lever 48 which is provided with a stop pin 48 normally held inwardly to project in the apertures I 49a formed in the plate 49 mounted on the side member B. By this means, the lever 48 operates to bring into the focal range any size of letter desired.

In order to indicate when the end of the line on'the plate is reached during the operation of reproducing the selected characters, and also the exact location .where the next character .will be imprinted on the plate, I provide a lin d indicator plate 51 disposed to depend inl front of 'the back plate C and mounted on a strap 52 to move freely with the plate holder 13, together with a stationary pointer 53 which is mounted on the back plate C and arranged with respect to the indicator plate 52 and the axis of the lens.

Vith the various parts of the machine ---positioned and operating substantially as set forth, and considering that itV be desired to produce on the plate 12 the words Ui\lITED STATES- in the largest size type, the operation of the machine would be substantially as follows. The carriage is first moved on its bearings-to bring the indicator in register with the letter U formed on the keyboard-which acts tosimultaneously bring the corresponding and inverted Fast with the stub i letter on the master plate-into the axis of the lens. The centering pin is then depressed to positively insure accuracy in the positioning of the letter thus brought into the axis, whereupon the hand bar 27 is depressed to obtain in quick succession: first, the opening and automatic closing of the shut-ter device ll which permits the photo` graphic flash reproduction of the letter U in its customary form on that portion of the platethen in the axis; and, second, the oommunication of the ratchet and worin spacing movement to the plate in a horizontal plane to bring an unused and alined portion ofthe plate into the axis in readinessI to receive the imprint of the next letter N, which movement lis registered on the indicator plate 51.

The carriage indicator is then moved to register with the letter N on the keyboard, and the operation already described is contlnuousl'y carried out until the stated words are reproduced on the plate. Tn the case of the letter I the ratchet ofcourse only moves one tooth, whereby to insure accuracy in the spaced relation of this letter with respect to the next letter T, the space preferably being considered as extending between the left hand portions of adjacent letters. To space the words .UNITED and STATES the hand bar only is depressed, as will be readily apparent.

Should it be desired to use smaller sized letters or numerals when placed on the-mas ter plate as I have them, it will be obvious that all thatis required is to actuate the tion of the hand vlever 21 and then returned to the beginning of a new line'by the application of hand pressure to the rod 35.

I desire to claim broadly as new the provision of an apparatus contemplated within the purview of my invention, and operating to bring a succession of-selected letters or characters into the axis of a lens for photo graplnc reproductlon on a sensitized surface disposed for movement in the focal plane of the lens. I. do not intend, however, to restrict myself to 4details of construction as shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the various parts, for it will be obvious that variations may be made'therefrom without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Such equivalent construction as variations in the character iso or contour of the master plate, the nature of radiant employed, or the insertion of optical lenses between the selected letters and the sensitized surface to enlargeor reduce the size of the character, are considered to come within the scope ofmy invention, as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and4 illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following v 1. In a machine of the character described, and in combination, a suitably supported lens, a sensitized member movable in the fo -al plane of the lens, and a character bcaringmeans constructed and arranged I' with reference to said lensfor bringing a number of selected characters ot' an unrelated series successivelyl into the axis of said lens for their reproduction as a related subject mattei' on the sensitized member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a suitably supported lens, a sensitized member movable in the focal plane of the lens, and a character bearing device containing a series of unrelated characters and constructed and arranged with reference to said frame and said lens for bringing certain characters of the series at Will into the axis of said lens Jfor their reproduction in spaced relation on the sensitized member as a related subject matter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a suitably supported lens, a sensitized member movable in the focal plane of the lens, a character Abearing device in said frame having a series of independent characters and movable to bring selected characters of the series successively into the axial range of the lens for their reproduction in spaced relation on the sensitized member, and an indicator member disposed in said frame in operative relation with said character bearing device for selecting` the characters desired for reproduction.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, vthecombination of a frame, a Silitably supported lens, a sensitized member movable in the focal vplane of the lens, a

character bearing device in said frame hav,

'movable to bring selected characters of the series successively into the axial range of the lens for their reproduction in spaced relation on the sensitized member, and actuating means operatively connected With the said member for moving the same a predetermined distance to take upa new position with reference to the axis of the lens as each character is reproduced.

5. In an apparatus ofthe characterrdescribed, the combination of a frame, a Suitably supported lens, a' sensitized member movable in the focal plane ot' the lens, a character bearing device in said frame having a seriesof unrelated characters and movable to bring selected characters of the series successively into the axial range of the lens for their reproduction in spaced relation on the sensitized member, actuating means operatively connected with the said member for moving the same a predetermined distance to take up a new position with reference to the axis of the lens as each character is reproduced, and means for indicating the changed position of the said member.

In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination with a sensir tized member, of a suitably supported lens in whose focal range the sensitized member is to be moved, a character bearing device mounted in front of the lens and movable relatively of its support to bring selected characters of an unrelated series successively into the aXial rangeof the lens for their reproduction in a desired related succession on the sensitized member, and means for actuating the lens in phase with the successive movements of the said device.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination, a frame, a lens supported therein, a character bearing device mounted in the frame with reference to said lens comprising a master plate containing two or more duplicate rows of differentsized characters, one of which is normally in horizontal alinement with the axis of the lens, means in operative relation With said plate Jfor vertically raising the latter relati vely of the frame to displace the alined row of characters and to position the other row in alinement, substantially as described. v 8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a photographic lens, a device for holding a sensitized plate disposed for horizontal displacement in? the focal plane of said lens, means adapted to successively bring into the axis of the said lens a selected number of series of unre-` lated characters or letters for photographic reproduction on the plate, and spacing means operatively connected with the "plate holding device for imparting intermittent movement in phase to the plate as the letters are being reproduced.

9. Ina machine of thecharacter described, the combination with a frame, of a suitable lens mounted in said frame, means for bringing a series of characters successively into the axial range of said lens including a i lcarriage movable in said frame, and coperat-ingr member-son the frame and carriage for substantially simultaneously selecting and entering the characters desired to be thus brought into the range of the lens,

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, of

Aa suitable lens mounted insaid frame, means in said frame for bringing a selected .Character into the axis of the lens for its reproduction on said plate, a plate holder movable in the `focal plane of the lens, and a common 4means operating to first actuate the Y shutter ofthe lensand then the plate holder.

12. In a machine of the character de-v scribed, the combination of a frame, al lens carried on said frame, a character bearing member and meaiismounted in said frame' and in operative relation with said member for centering each character in the axis of the lens.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a lens and a plate holder therefor, means for successively bringing characters or letters into the axial range of the said lens, actuating means for imparting an intermittent spacing movement to the plate holder, and compensating means interpoesd in said actuating means for varying the space for one or more of the characters.

14. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, a lens mounted in a suitable suppoi't, a pla-te holder movable relatively7 of said support and actuating means for said plate holder comprising a manual-ly depressible spring-held lever, and connections between the latter member yand 'the plate holder arranged to impart an intermittent spacing movement to the holder in the plane of lens support.

15. In combination, a llens mounted in a suitable support, a plate holder movable in the focal plane ofsaid lens, and actuating means for imparting an intermittent horizontal spacing movement to the holder, said means being variable to vary the extent of l,

spacing movement, substantially as described.

16. The combination Awith a sensitized plate, of 'a lens mounted on a suitable supable frame and a plate holder slidable tlieiein, actuating means normally engaging with v the frameand adapted to impart an intermittentinovenient to the plate in a horizon-v tal plane whereby it is caused to move from one aliiied position to another in the focal plane of the lens, means for returning said frame and holder to the first position, and

means for vertically moving tlieplate holder' nism cooperating with the last mentioned means for varying the length ofthe space between adjacent .letters on the plate, substantially as described.

18. In combination, a main frame, a lens supported on said frame, a plate holder .dis-

posed adjacent said lens, a frame ior carrying the plate holder, means for imparting intermittent spacing movement to the plate holder frame comprising a screw shaft journaled in the main frame and actuating means connected with said shaft, said holder frame operatively engaging the said shaft 'whereby on actuation of the last mentioned means the frame is moved from one limiting position to another limiting position, and means disengaging the holder frame and shaft for returning the former to the first mentioned position. l

19. Ina flash lettering machine, a frame, a lens and radiant supported in juxtaposition in the frame, a stationary key-board containing characters, a carriage movablein said frame relatively of the key-board and provided with an indicator for indicating a selected character on said key-board, and a character bearing member mounted in said carriage, said carrier being niovable to bring the selected character into the path of light, substantially as described.

20. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a lens and a sensitizedplate, of a holder for said plate, means for bringing a series of characters or lettersy successively into the path of light for their reproduction by the lens in spaced relation on said plate, means for imparting a normal spacing movement to the holder- 'as certain characters in the series are so reproduced, and means co-acting therewith for varying the space for other characters of the series.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

GUSTAF F. BAGGE.

Witnesses:

JOHAN 'VVAsGm J FRANCE PETERSON. 

